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Hicklen, Effingham Co. girls knock out McIntosh High 44-40

Gilbert Miller/For the Savannah Morning NewsEffingham County’s Jakayvea Akins (4) takes a stolen pass down court for a fast break layup and the go-ahead points with less than 50 seconds in the game against McIntosh High on Saturday

SPRINGFIELD — Patience. Poise. Defense. Especially defense.

The Effingham County girls basketball team had all three of those qualities and a precocious sophomore who was oblivious to the pressure of the situation. As a result, the Lady Rebels find themselves in the Elite Eight of the GHSA Class AAAAA state tournament.

With her team trailing by eight points at the half, 5-foot-4 Ebony Hicklen came up big for Effingham County in the second half to help lead the host Rebels to a pulsating 44-40 win over McIntosh High on Saturday.

Coach Curtis Stevens’ team will host Thomas County Central at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night for a berth in the Final Four.

McIntosh led 16-11 at the end of the first quarter and expanded its lead to 24-16 at the break against the cold-shooting Rebels.

Effingham County (25-5), however, put together an 8-2 run in the closing minutes of the third quarter to finally draw even at 26. The score was 28-28 going into a fourth quarter that had the sellout crowd going through emotional ups and downs on every possession.

Hicklen, who led the Rebels with 14 points, had only two in the first half but started turning it on in the third quarter. Although she helped her team get even, it was in the fourth quarter when Hicklen really came up big for the Rebels, who have won 13 straight games.

“She’s gotten better and better during the season,” Stevens said. “She’s worked hard, and she’s a big factor in what we’ve been able to do.”

Effingham County jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game, but the Peachtree City team ended the first quarter on a 9-0 run, and it was an uphill fight for the Rebels from that point on.

“Our defense did a much better job in the second half,” Stevens said. “In the first half, they had uncontested shots, but in the second half, every shot was contested, especially down the stretch.

“We’ve played a lot of close games this season,” Stevens said. “When it came down to the fourth quarter, we were able to work the clock and be patient.”

ECHS got its first lead in the second half at 30-28 when Aliyah Williams drove the baseline for a score, but the Lady Chiefs regained the advantage when Gabby Seiler hit a 3-pointer with 4 minutes, 22 seconds to play.

Stevens called time, and whatever he told the Lady Rebels worked.

Hicklen scored four straight points to give her team the lead for good with 2:04 to play.

McIntosh got a basket from Christine Cerezola to draw to within one, but Effingham scored the final three points of the game to earn what will be its final home game of the season.

Akins added 10 points for the Lady Rebels while Seiler led all scorers with 20.